Coin-cotrolled mechanism for dispensing newspapers.



No. 659,|40. Patented Oct. 2, 3900.- G. EASTERBEE.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING NEWSPAPERS.

(Application filed June 8, 1899.5

(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heei l.

j Z /i S I fl) i (F 6 -i 6 4b 1 ||Iu... "Hll lllluhm K 1 mum-m5: m mvza/a 69. 2, 6m 2 Afiz/ figlly ma NORRIS vzrzn: co, mnxuma, WASHINGTON, n c.

No. 659,!40. Patented Oct. 2, I900. G. EASTERBEE.

COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING NEWSPAPERS.

(Application filed June 8, 1899) (No Model.) 2 Sheats8heet 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM FOR DISPENSING NEWSPAPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent- No. 659,140, dated October 2, 1900 Application filed June 8, 1899. Serial No. 719,843. \No model.)

To aZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE EASTERBEE, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Portland, in the county of Multnomah, State of Oregon, have invented a new and useful Coin-Controlled Mechanism for Dispensing Newspapers, of which the follo wing is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings as a part thereof.

The object of my invention is to obtain a coin-controlled mechanism whereby newspapers may be automatically dispensedthat is to say, my invention comprises a platform designed to carry a stock of newspapers so as to bring the uppermost paper in contact with an expelling device, such platform being suspended by mechanism adapted to gradually raise the same as the papers are withdrawn to bring the papers in contact with the expolling device successively, and a motor for operating the various devices, which motor is normally stopped, but released by depositing a coin on the end of a lever-arm, so that by depositing such coin in the slot therefor provided in the case the motor may be set in operation and the machine will deliver one of the newspapers within it stored.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my invention, the side of the casing being removed, so as to show the mechanical devicesused by me for carrying my invention into effect. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of my machine inclosed in its casing, part of which casing is broken away, so as to afford a front view of the devices shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan of the motor whereby the devices of my machine are set into operation. Fig. lis a detail of the lever-arm on the extremity of which the coin whereby the mechanism is to be set into operation is deposited, and this figure also shows the certain parts of my invention immediately cooperating with said lever. Fig. 5 is a partial end elevation of the same devices shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a plan of the same devices seen in Figs. 4

and 5. Fig.7 is a detail of a swinging shelf upon which the coin that has been deposited on the end of the said lever and has caused the machine to operate is dropped and where the nickle remains in view of the operator until a second coin has been used in operating the machine, as will be more fully ex- 0 represents a casing in which the mechanism of my device is inclosed.

b is a platform having four standards 19, supporting such platform on the floor of the case.

a is a spring-controlled motor secured to the floor of the casing and comprising a pair of gears 0 0 The gear 0' is loose on its axle 0 Such axle carries a fast ratchet-wheel 0 engaged by a pawl on the said gear c',and aspriug (not shown in the drawings) imparts motion to the larger gear-wheel in the usual Way. The spring is wound up by means of a key placed on the squared end of the shaft 0 The larger gear meshing with the smaller gear 0 drives that and therewith a drum cl, affixed to the axle of the gear 0 On the drum d is wound a cord e, passing over a pulleyf and ascending to and rounding a pulley 't', thence descending and passing around in one of the grooves of pulley h, thence again ascending and passing around in one of the grooves of pulley g, thence again descending and making a second turn around pulley h, thence again ascending and makingasecond turn around pulley g, and finally descending to and being fastened to the bearings for the pulley h, afi'ixed to the platform Z). A like cord 6, also winding on the drum (1, but from an opposite direction, travels to the left over a pulleyf and around pulleys g h i and is finally connected to the bearings 19 for the pulley h, affixed to the platform bin the same manner as has been described of the cord 6. The axle k of the drum is provided at its left end with a gear-wheel l, meshing below with a smaller gear-wheel m, journaled on a short axle m, affixed to the Wall of the case. The hub 'm of the gear-wheel m has a shoulder cut in it, which interlocks with a like shoulder in a sleeve 11. With such sleeve are connected a link it and the lever 71*, fulcru med on an axle n supported in boxes n a affixed to the partition-wall 0. p is a lever-arm pivotally supported from such wall 0 and provided with a slotted link p, engaging the end of the lever n, such lever 19 having further a counterweight p and a knee p for receiving the coin. This lever-arm and cooperating mechanism must be neatly adjusted. It is intended tooperate as follows: Upon placing the coin in' the knee p of the lever p the weight of such coin will cause the lever to descend, drawing down the slotted link 19 and therewith the lever n moving the sleeve a to the right, and thereby disengaging the h ub of the smaller wheel in and allowing the latter to run as an idler. The control of the larger gear I being thus removed, the moment such disengagement takes place the gear I will make a partial revolution, being actuated by the cords e e, winding up on the revolving drum d, responding to the spring-controlled motor. The coin having fallen off the end of the lever-arm p allows the counterweight p to right the same, again lifting the lever 71 and moving the sleeve 02 back toward its normal position and ready to engage the hub of the gear in as soon as that returns to its normal position. The gears land m are so proportioned that a quarter-revolution of the first-named gear will allow a complete revolution of the last-named gear. The drum is of the same size as the gear I and makes a quarter-revolulion too. The peripheral surface of such drum is faced with some friction material, like rubber, which coming in con tact with the uppermost newspaper expels such paper down the chute q and out of the machine. The cords c c and the series of pulleys over which such cords are led are such as to lift the platform I) about one'quarter of an inch with each operation of the machine, so that as the uppermost paper is expelled the next upper paper is again brought in position to be expelled upon the second operation of the machine, and so on.

As the thickness of papers varies, it is advisable that the pulleys i t" comprise each a stepped series of pulleys, so that the cords e 6 may be shifted from one to the other of the grooves on the pulleys i t, as may be required, for adjusting the speed of the lift of the platform and that by such means the lift of the platform may be regulated and conformed to the thickness of the newspapers. A slot 2' is provided in the upper part of the case in which to insert the coin, such slot opening into a chute r", delivering the coin on the said knee p" of the lever 19.

For the purpose of retaining the coin used for the purpose of operating the machine, in view to enable a bystander to see that the machine is not imposed upon, I have contrived the device more particularly illns-' trated in Figs. 7 and 8. The same consists of two swinging shelves 5' s, supported on the axles f i and connected at their right ends by arms a u, and they are intended to operate as follows: When first starting the machine, a coin should be placed on the lower shelf 3'. The front of the case at this part is provided with a glass, so that such coin may be plainly seen. Then a second coin is now inserted in the machine for operating the same and expelling a newspaper, such second coin will be dropped on the upper shelf s. The t o shelves .9 s are, however, so balanced that they will hold but one coin. Therefore upon the second coin being d ropped on the upper shelf the counterbalancingweight of the arms a it will be overcome and the two shelves tipped, allowing the lower coin to drop to the bottom of the machine in some box therefor provided, and the moment the lower shelf is thus released of its weight the weight of the arms a a will again right the shelves .9 s to their normal position, catching the coin dropped on the upper shelf as it falls therefrom on the lower shelf.

Having fully described myinvention, now what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of a lifting-platform, a friction drum journaled horizontally above the lifting-platform, for expelling the papers, a mechanical power for operating the said lifting-platform and said friction-drum conjointly and relatively, and a clutching device adapted to normally resist the action of the operative power, said clutching device having a portion depressible bya coin or weight, the depression of which portion releases the resistance of said clutching device and allows said paper lifting and expelling devices to operate; and said depressible portion being adapted to automatically discharge said coin or weight again to restore the clutching device to its operative state, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for the purpose specified, the combination of a lifting-platform, a friction-drum journaled horizontally above the lifting-platform, for expelling the papers, cords and pulleys, and an automatic device for winding up said cords and lifting said platform, there being also pulleys on the spindle of the said drum over which said cords pass and whereby the power applied for lifting the platform is transmitted to said drum and operates the same, and a clutching device adapted to normally resist the action of said wind-up device, said clutching device being connected with a fnlcrnmed lever whereby said clutching device is thrown into and out of an operative state, and the free end of said lever being adapted to hold a coin or weight, while in an upright position, wherewith to depress said lever and release the resistance of such clutching device, substantially as described.

3. A machine for the purpose specified,

comprising a case, a lifting-platform, a friction-drum for expelling the papers, cords and pulleys for lifting said platform and an antomatic device for winding up said cords, pulleys on the spindle of the said frictiondrum, over which pulleys said cords pass and whereby the power applied for lifting the platform is transmitted to said drum and operates the same; means for relatively controlling the lift of the said lifting-platform; a gear on the spindle of the friction-drum; a smaller gear meshing therewith, loosely mounted on a short spindle affixed to a wall of the casing; a clutch engagingsuch smaller gear, and a f ulcrumed lever and cooperating device whereby said clutch may be thrown in and out of contact with said smaller gear, the said lever and said cooperative device being adapted to normally keep the said clutch in engagement with said smaller gear, and the upper end of said lever being adapted, while in a raised position, to hold a coin or weight whereby to depress said lever and release the resistance of said clutching mechanism, an opening in the case for receiving such coin or weight, a chute from such opening leading to the receiving end of the lever, and a trap for catching the coin or weight as it falls from the end of the lever; said trap being adapted to hold the coin or weight that has been deposited in the machine for operating the same, and discharging said coin in a receptacle therefor provided upon a second coin being introduced into the machine, and there being a glass in the front of the machine affording a view of the operation of said trap,

substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE EASTERBEE.

Witnesses:

A.. A. QUARNBERG, T. J. GEIsLnR. 

